'party' can mean 1) a group of people doing something, or 2) an event where people meet to have fun. For example: 1) The party left Cairo on Thursday morning. 2) Everyone arrived for the birthday party. So, a 'skating party' might be a group of people who go skating, or an event where people skate for fun. You can't really be certain which from the context you have given - but it doesn't really matter because the two things are more of less the same in this example. I assume you know what 'skating' is?

Hi Sasha, As a child, I attended a few 'skating parties', and they were always held at a roller skating rink or an ice skating rink :) We were celebrating a birthday or some other happy occasion. Of course, family and friends can have these get-togethers just for fun.

I think the skating party refers to a group of people skating. The writer mentioned 3 sports like hockey, skating, and sledding as an alternative for hanging out at the mall.

Ice skating.

I think, it means party at the skating rink